Characteristics and levers in the business model of hospital pharmacies in German-speaking countries

ABSTRACT

Background

The pharmaceutical supply in hospitals in German-speaking countries shows inadequate structural and procedural characteristics with regard to the quality of supply and security of supply. The question arises: How should a business model be designed to control and optimize the internal pharmaceutical supply in hospitals in German-speaking countries?

Method

With an adapted Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), pharmaceutical supply in hospitals in German-speaking countries is examined by means of two online surveys (2017, 2021) among managers of hospital pharmacies in Austria, Germany and Switzerland (2017: N = 412; n = 61, rr = 14.8%; 2021: N = 332, n = 44, rr = 13.3%).

Results

In addition to cross-sector trends in procurement and logistics, the communication and interaction among members of the health professions and the pharmacy and the associated relationship of trust are decisive for the security of supply and the quality of patient care. Targeted communication, digitization and performance measurement are relevant levers for a targeted development and optimization of pharmaceutical supply in hospitals.

Conclusions

The business model of the hospital pharmacy must be designed and applied conceptually and strategically. In addition to innovative logistics tools, also includes special communication approaches and interprofessional knowledge management.

KEYWORDS:

• Hospital pharmacy
• pharmaceutical supply
• in-house
• success factors
• coordination
• business model

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.

Notes on contributors

Johannes Kriegel

Johannes Kriegel, a professor for health care management researches and publishes on the topics of strategic hospital management, digital health management and health logistics. His current publications include Management of support processes in Austrian hospitals - Integrated network of primary care processes and support processes (International Journal of Healthcare Management, 2019).

Alexander Weigl

Alexander Weigl, a head of a university hospital pharmacy teaches, researches, and publishes in the fields of clinical pharmacology and hospital pharmacy management. His current publications include, among other things, drug supply in hospitals - current and future design options for internal drug supply chain management in hospitals (Gesundheitsökonomie & Qualitätsmanagement, 2018).

Clemens Rissbacher

Clemens Rissbacher, a managing director of a university hospital researches and publishes on the topics of disease management, strategic hospital management and mobile robotics in hospitals. His current publications include The Requirements and Applications of Autonomous Mobile Robotics (AMR) in Hospitals from the Perspective of Nursing Officers (International Journal of Healthcare Management, 2021).

Marcel Dieck

Marcel Dieck, a senior project manager in hospital management researches and publishes in the fields of hospital facility management and health logistics. His relevant publications include Optimizing patient flow in Austrian hospitals – Improvement of patient-centered care by coordinating hospital wide patient trails (International Journal of Healthcare Management, 2015).

Linda Tuttle-Weidinger

Linda Tuttle-Weidinger, senior management consultant for nonprofit organizations researches and publishes in the fields of social working, health management and international communications. Her latest publications include Levers for integrating social work into primary healthcare networks in Austria (Health Policy, 2020).